J. H. Carnathan

Imagine waking up without knowing where you are, not remembering who you are or why you are here - only to realise that you are in coma, and you only have a few days to live.

In order to get out of this ‘’in-between’’ place, you have to beat your demons… Would you be able to do that? Would you be able to realise what you were doing wrong, and become a better person?

See the full review on my website - www.diaryofdifference.com

Purgatorium is a wonderfully thought story.

The main character is very unique, and a lot of people can relate to that certain type, for many different reasons.

I like how the story covers a little bit of Dante’s idea for a Purgatory, and a little bit of Alice in the Wonderland fantasy. I love how the time is presented, and every day has its own lost soul to help the main character.

The pace of the book goes easily, as it is nicely split into little chapters, all split into separate days, so we can keep track of where in time we are.

I found the character really amusing, how he changes over time, how he realises that he should have been a better person and tries to fix his life and make amends.
The story will blow your mind - it did blew my mind for sure. Expect to find a lot of unexpected things to happen, lots of twists, that will haunt you in a good way, for a very long time!

This story is so intriguing, unpredictable, and definitely worth reading. It makes you wonder about the true values in life, about who we really are, and all the sins we are making without realising the consequences.

It also makes you wonder whether a person can really change, entirely become a better person, or would he try to be a better person, just so he can have another chance in life to continue living the way he always used to live his life.
This is definitely one of the books that will make you want to re-read it over and over again.… (meer)

I can't explain why but I shied away from this read at the start. However, the fact that Carnathan is writing a story so full of life while the protagonist lies in a coma, where his soul is trapped in Purgatorium, living the same day over, does seem fitting, as does the fact that Barachiel leads the other angels we are introduced to.

Done in a Science Fiction genre, there are many things I like about this look at human exploration.

Firstly. The writing is truly remarkable and intriguing and I had the same pensive mood that I feel when reading my favorite Gothics. Indeed. An overwhelming thought was, "What price does one pay to cleanse one's mind"?

Secondly, I love the first person narration and the many twists and turns throughout the book. For a while it appeared we were skipping round robin where elation, disgust and a myriad of other emotional reactions lead to our speculations. Yes! We learn taking a breath and making a conscious choice is much better than the more typical knee-jerk reaction.

Thirdly, I appreciate the use of cards, snowglobes and other items, name associations, time-checks, and the observative text occurring during flashbacks that fire up the intensity.

Lastly, readers do get the opportunity to witness the protagonists sense of dread being matched with a sense of disapproval at what is acknowledged to be overly self-indulgent. And, in the darkest hours, we see that upon reflection, the focus becomes clearer. And once the capacity of sensation is gained, atonement is sought, with the realization that identity is the human connection.

In closing, I found the 3 words in the opening line to be luminous. “I jolt awake”.

I received this fascinating novel through the generosity of the author for an honest review.… (meer)

Imagine waking up without knowing where you are, not remembering who you are or why you are here - only to realise that you are in coma, and you only have a few days to live.

In order to get out of this ‘’in-between’’ place, you have to beat your demons… Would you be able to do that? Would you be able to realise what you were doing wrong, and become a better person?

See the full review on my website - www.diaryofdifference.com

Purgatorium is a wonderfully thought story.

The main character is very unique, and a lot of people can relate to that certain type, for many different reasons.

I like how the story covers a little bit of Dante’s idea for a Purgatory, and a little bit of Alice in the Wonderland fantasy. I love how the time is presented, and every day has its own lost soul to help the main character.

The pace of the book goes easily, as it is nicely split into little chapters, all split into separate days, so we can keep track of where in time we are.

I found the character really amusing, how he changes over time, how he realises that he should have been a better person and tries to fix his life and make amends.
The story will blow your mind - it did blew my mind for sure. Expect to find a lot of unexpected things to happen, lots of twists, that will haunt you in a good way, for a very long time!

This story is so intriguing, unpredictable, and definitely worth reading. It makes you wonder about the true values in life, about who we really are, and all the sins we are making without realising the consequences.

It also makes you wonder whether a person can really change, entirely become a better person, or would he try to be a better person, just so he can have another chance in life to continue living the way he always used to live his life.
This is definitely one of the books that will make you want to re-read it over and over again.… (meer)